Please forward this to friends, associates, family and others who you think might have an interest. I am always looking to reach out into the greater community for ideas, concerns and constructive criticism as to how we can make our hometown even better.
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LOCAL EVENTS 


 

I owe an apology to the hundreds of staff and volunteers of our community's 

many social service agencies who work tirelessly 

to help individuals and/or families in need.

 

I also need to thank the many compassionate individuals who quickly 

came to the plate to help a family in need.

 

Apology/Explanation

In my last newsletter, I shared the story of two amazing young men who, for the past two or more years, have cared for their sick mom who recently passed away.  One is an "A" student at Beaufort High School, the other a full time student at the Technical College of the Lowcountry who also works 50 hours a week to support his younger brother and mother.  Somehow he managed to get her to doctors' appointments and treatments and ensured she was comfortable as she fought a deadly disease.

 

I was so moved when I read the story, I quickly cut and pasted from a website, and in so doing, seem to have misrepresented a number of public and not-for-profit social service agencies not the least of which is the United Way, The Human Resources Alliance, COSY (The Collaborative Organization of Services for Youth), the Salvation Army, the Franciscan Center and Help of Beaufort.

 

In what I cut and pasted, there was a sentence that read. "I have contacted The Beaufort Gazette, WTOC news, United Way, Salvation Army, Help of Beaufort, and the Franciscan Center, only to be turned away by every one of them." 

 

What I failed to understand and say was that none of the agencies had the capacity to help with funding a funeral which was, at the time, the young men's sole mission because the clock was ticking and the funeral home was looking for payment. 

 

What should have been added was that "while they were not able to help with my immediate need, each of the organizations I contacted invited me back and offered whatever help they might be able to provide."

 

So to those I may have led to believe the agencies were not responsive, please accept my apology.

 

Thanks

Ginger Wareham, the owner of Picklejuice Productions, created a web site asking for donations to help with the funeral as well as contributions of items the young men will need to set up their home now that their mother is gone.

 

There was an overwhelming response.  The young men raised in excess of what they needed for the funeral and household goods flowed into the office building I share with Ginger and others. 

 

Furthermore, the co-owner of a professional counseling service, a retired military man, came forward to mentor the young men and Fred Leyda, Beaufort County's Human Services Coordinator, met with us and set forth a program, including a checklist of issues the men may need to address.  In so doing, he outlined the many agencies that could help the young men with various legal, financial and counseling needs they may have.

 

Thank you Beaufort and friends beyond!  You are absolutely the best.

 

What's next?

I had the good fortune to meet this exemplar young men and to hook them up with help through those of you who donated and the agencies that are offering a helping hand.

 

I believe the young men have extended their fundraising goal for help to get themselves settled into a new life. 

 

If you have not already donated, and would like to do so, I am sure they would appreciate your help.

 

 



It is amazing what social networking and a compassionate community can do.  Thanks again to all.
For the past number of months, a number of citizens have  been waiting for 
the "sound" date on the JSF-35-B. The following was released last week.  






 


 

Public Meeting Announcement

 

MCAS Beaufort and MCRD Parris Island Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) Update and Public Input Session

 

 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

 

5:30 p.m.        Doors Open

6:00 p.m.        Meeting

 

Technical College of the Lowcountry

Auditorium; Building 12

921 Ribaut Road

Beaufort, South Carolina

 

The Auditorium is located on the west side of the campus and parking is available in the lot to the northwest of Building 12.

 

Maps and analytical displays will be available for viewing prior to the 6 p.m. start.  The JLUS Project Team will be on hand to answer questions before and after the meeting.  The presentation will include the results of the public survey.

 

If anyone is unable to attend, but would like to make sure that the consultants and local agencies know of your suggestions and concerns, please send them to:

 

            Ginnie Kozak, Planning Director

            Lowcountry Council of Governments

            P.O. Box 98

            Yemassee, SC  29945

            or gkozak@lowcountrycog.org

 

 



 

 

FREE CONCERT BY THE 

BEAUFORT SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

CONDUCTOR:  

Frederick Devyatkin, BSO Maestro

 

 

 

 

Why: DONATIONS ACCEPTED TO BENEFIT THE BRIDGES PREP MUSIC PROGRAM ...AND BECAUSE LIFE AND EDUCATION ARE BETTER THROUGH MUSIC!! (Contact Jessica Mullen, jmullen@bridgesprep.org for donation information).

 

When: Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 7pm, during Open House.

 

Where: BPS Gym, 1100 Boundary St., Beaufort, SC 29902. Limited seating available.

 

 

 

EVENT CANCELLED

SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION PRESENTS

 ARTIST WORKSHOPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LIBRARIES

 Gullah Geechee artists encouraged to register to attend  

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. -The South Carolina Arts Commission, in partnership with  local libraries, will present the last in a series of three professional development workshops called "Promoting your Gullah Geechee Art Form,"  from 6 - 9 p.m. Nov. 17 at the St. Helena Island Branch of the Beaufort County Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road on St. Helena Island.


 

This workshop is offered free of charge. Space is limited to the first 30 registrants. To register for the workshop, artists should call 803-734-8693 or email
sduplessis@arts.sc.gov  and provide name, phone number and email address.

 

 

The goal of the series of workshops is to give artists the tools to create basic support materials necessary for promotion of their art work through a variety of mediums.  "It is especially designed for Gullah Geechee residents who practice or represent one or more of the cultural expressions outlined in the Gullah Geechee Corridor's management plan," said Ken May, South Carolina Arts Commission executive director. Those areas include music, arts, handicrafts, foodways, spirituality, language, education and economic development. The development of these workshops began after a series of community arts meetings in 2013, where the Arts Commission, in partnership with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, heard from more than 80 artists and residents in the Corridor.   

 

"Our ongoing goal is to make new relationships that bring new resources to people and create interest in the Corridor - both in the state and beyond," May said. "This series of workshops for Gullah Geechee artists will hopefully provide a template for replication in the four-state corridor."  The other states in the Corridor are North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

 

"We are also pleased to present these workshops in partnership with local libraries. They are an essential community resource," May said.

 

The second workshop is scheduled for Nov. 10 at the Georgetown County Library in Georgetown. The first workshop was held Sept. 30 at the Mt. Pleasant Branch of the Charleston County Library.

 

All three workshops will be led by Charleston native Kerri Forrest, award-winning journalist and owner of Social Creative Media Consulting. Active in the Charleston region since her return from a distinguished career in Washington, D.C., in 2010, Forrest currently is director of Institutional Advancement for the American College of the Building Arts. She also chairs the speaker selection committee for TEDx Charleston. Other artists and local arts leaders will also participate.

 

For additional information about the program and future meetings, contact Arts Participation Program Director Susan DuPlessis, sduplessis@arts.sc.gov or (803) 734-8693.